Vladimir Kara-Murza

Vladimir Kara-Murza's career has been marked by a steadfast commitment to democracy and civil society in Russia. Serving as vice-chairman of Open Russia, Kara-Murza has been instrumental in promoting civil society and democracy in his home country. His political career includes stints as deputy leader of the People's Freedom Party from 2015 to 2016 and advisory roles to State Duma opposition leader Boris Nemtsov between 2000 and 2003, and later to the Institute of Modern Russia. He was elected to the federal council of the Solidarnost movement in 2008, a position he successfully retained in subsequent elections in 2010 and 2013. His political activism has also seen him participate in some of the largest pro-democracy street protests in Russia since 1991.

Kara-Murza's commitment to justice and human rights is reflected in his extensive body of work. He has authored the book "Reform or Revolution: The Quest for Responsible Government in the First Russian State Duma" and has directed documentaries such as "They Chose Freedom" and "Nemtsov." These works, in addition to numerous articles and op-eds, have provided critical insight into the anti-democratic trends in Russia, particularly under the leadership of President Vladimir Putin. His efforts have not gone unrecognized; in 2018 he was awarded the Civil Courage Prize and later in 2022, he received the Václav Havel Human Rights Prize. Kara-Murza's work extends beyond Russia; he has testified before the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission of the U.S. Congress advocating for the Magnitsky Act and has urged for similar legislation in Canada and the European Union.

In 2024, Kara-Murza was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for commentary for columns written during his imprisonment. His release in August 2024 was part of a noteworthy prisoner exchange. Despite facing multiple challenges, including suspected poisoning incidents in 2015 and 2017, Kara-Murza has remained committed to his work. He currently serves as a Senior Fellow to the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights and continues to contribute to the discourse on democracy and human rights. His work and insights continue to be featured in major outlets such as CBS 60 Minutes, NBC Nightly News, CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, and BBC Newsnight.